21 Today

Today, my baby is 21.

Regular and long time readers will know it has not always been the easiest twenty one years.

 

 

There have been problems along the way but despite all that I wouldn't ever want to change a thing... well except his diagnosis of type 1 diabetes when he was 15 because that just sucks!

 

He has grown up into a lovely young man.

 

And today we celebrate with two cakes... a toffee cheesecake at Jacob's request.

 

And a Grumpy Cat cake because that is what I felt like making... and Jacob likes him.

I think we can allow a little sugar on his birthday.

 

Happy 21st birthday Jake!

Black and White

Remember this little notebook cover that featured in this post here?

 

 

I designed it as a sample for my Tuesday embroidery class. The ladies were given the challenge to design their own project to showcase the technique and I was looking forward to seeing what they would come up with. And what did they come up with? Notebook covers!

 

But still each one is unique and rather lovely. I especially like the embroidered bee and beaded button on Di's beautiful notebook.

 

Jean's fun book is covered with humorous text.

 

Linda is not only new to the class but also new to machine embroidery and despite working without an embroidery foot for the first two weeks, has produced this amazing example above.

 

This is Jan's diary cover...

 

and the front and back of her second example. Such delicate imagery.

 

Linda also made a second example.

 

And while the class have been working on their projects I have used the technique to make a cushion cover...

 

a rather premature Valentine! Stewart wanted to know who I was giving it to but I told him I hadn't decided yet! I am toying with making them to order with customised messages though... what do you think? Good idea?

 

The back is a plain envelope...

 

But my favourite bits are the buttons.

 

Just 2 cm diameter.

 

Wonder what I can make next?

Beetroot...

...it's a bit like Marmite. Well, actually it's absolutely nothing like Marmite but you know what I mean... you either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground. Me... I love it!

 

 

Which is why I always grow it, but this year I seem to have gone a little overboard when I was planting and we have somewhat of a glut. It goes in salads and we are particularly fond of it sliced onto pizza. Beetroot and goat's cheese pizza is our current favourite topping... one of those flavour combinations that were meant for each other.

 

But I keep trying to find new and different ways of slipping it into our diets over the past couple of weeks. There is soup of course... always good.

 

And I have made a beetroot and chocolate cake which Jacob was devouring with relish until he discovered I'd hidden vegetables in his cake.

 

A made a couple of jars of pickles...

 

which look so beautiful glowing red in their jars.

 

And last night I made a Beetroot and Horseradish (another winning combination) Pie. Anyone who has ever been a student or tutor at Missenden Abbey will know about their famous Beetroot pie which is a favourite with everyone. This recipe claims to be the genuine article...

 

and I have to say it tasted pretty authentic!

 

And last of all I have made a Chocolate Beetroot ice-cream. I thought the jury might be out on this one but no... they like it. It tastes intensly sweet and chocolately with a slightly earthy flavour. Unusual but good... another winner from Hugh's Veg book!

 

I think there might be risotto on the menu this weekend but I could do with some more suggestions to use up the couple of dozen more roots that are still lingering in the veg patch. How about you... do you love it or loath it? And what's your favourite beetroot recipe?

Blissful Knitting

I loved this jacket when I first saw it on the front of the most recent Debbie Biss magazine. I wasn't too sure if I liked the yarn or the colour but the jacket was perfect.

 

 

So when Gill and I attended a "Debbie Bliss" event at the Creative Sanctuary, not only were we entertained by Debbie talking about how she sources and selects her yarns and develops her pattern designs but we also got to try on several of her latest designs... including that jacket. And I discovered not only did the jacket look amazing on, the yarn and the colour were perfect too... as were almost all the colours available.

 

But much as I would have loved to have bought the yarn and come home to start knitting the jacket straight away I really couldn't justify spending over £70. And Gill reminded me that I had plenty of unfinished projects at home... like this one.

 

Nearly four years ago we went to an exhibition where I fell in love with this jacket by Marion Foale... The Gina jacket (and very similar in shape to the Debbie Bliss one now that I see the photos again).

Gill found me a pattern, I did tension squares, I knitted, I blocked, I stiched it together...

 

and it ended up looking like something I had made for a mishapen gorilla. It was too tight in some places, too big in others and the sleeves seemed to stretch about 6" when I blocked it. You'll understand why I never shared the results on here! In time I unravelled it all but couldn't face winding it into hanks so that I could wash out  all the kinks in the yarn. What a waste!

 

However, inspired by our day out I came home, and in the true spirit of make do and mend, I wound the yarn, washed it and started a brand new cardigan... which so far I'm rather liking!

 

Maybe if I finish this and all the other half knitted stuff that's lurking by the side of my sofa I'll get around to making that Debbie Bliss jacket one day!

A Murder...

...of crows!

The first ever workshop I organised as Young Embroiderers leader was making "Crazy Crows" so it seemed fitting that I should do this for my last workshop as YE leader too. This is a very photo heavy post but I couldn't possibly leave anyone out. 

 

 

The crow above was made by Grace but as she had to leave at lunchtime she only got one side completed. Such beautiful stitching though. Sophia managed to work on both sides of her crow and just needs to stitch them together... and I should mention that she is only 7 years old!

 

The following two crows look like identical twins... but they are the work of Bluebell...

 

and Francesca who are the bestest of best friends.

 

Alev, who is only eight, came to her first meeting today and made the crow below...front..

 

 

and back... with virtually no help at all! I just love the lips!

 

 

We also have the front and back of Eve's crow (another 7 year old... Eve that is, not the crow!)

 

The front and back of Lottie's crow... more beautiful stitching!

 

Apologies now because the following four crows are the work of Abigail, Scarlett, Imogen and Jemima... but I can't remember whose is whose

 

Of course because our girls are so clever and self reliant it does mean that our "helpers" have very little helping to do (at least that is what they tell me) and so they managed to work on their own crows.. this one from Gill

 

The rather dapper Mr. Crow esq. below from Rhian

 

And last but not least this absolutely exquisite cockerel from Jan which does seem rather fitting as Jan will be taking over as YE leader at the next meeting. I think you are going to be in safe hands girls!

 

And mine... well I didn't finish one because I rather stupidly made two sides facing the same way so they couldn't be stitched together... doh! But I did make cookies for our tea break.

 

I've had a fabulous six years working as YE leader but it's going to be good to come along as just a helper. Looking forward to it!